Control device for radio receiving apparatus



March 5, 1940. 5000 ET AL 2,192,706

CONTROL DEVICE FORRADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIME CLOK SELECTION PRESS BUTTON SELECTION H.

March 5, 1940. J H, 500: ET AL I 2,192,706

vCONTROL DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Fil ed Febjzs, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- Mardi 5, 1940. H, 5001; AL 2,192,706

CONTROL DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 5 sheets-Sheet 3 TToRNv March 5, 1940.

J. H. GOOD ET AL CONTROL DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 5, 1940. I GOOD r AL 2,192,706

CONTROL DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed Feb; 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet s A TORIIJEY Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 192,012

6 Claims.

This invention relates to control devices for radio receiving apparatus; and more particularly to means to automatically adjust receiving sets to receive predetermined radio broadcasting stations at predetermined times.

In radio receiving sets, it is customary to tune to various wavelengths by adjusting the condenser. In certain remote control devices this is done by means of an electric motor. However, remote control devices and other means for adjusting a receiving set have required the attention of an operator for each adjustment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which can be readily attached to or incorporated in a radio receiving set for automatically adjusting the receiving set to receive predetermined wavelengths at predetermined times and at automatic immediate selection. In accordance with our invention, the device can be adjusted to receive automatically a different wavelength in intervals of 15 minutes or immediate desire. The 15 minute interval has been chosen as the usual radio broadcast is based on 15 minute intervals or multiples thereof.

A further object is the provision of a device which can be installed directly in the receiving set or readily attached thereto for automatically receiving in succession a plurality of wavelengths.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a radio receiving set having our device attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a detail of a control apparatus,

Fig. 3 is an elevational View, showing the control apparatus from the rear side,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of presetting means used in the apparatus,

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing details of the presetting means,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-B of Fig. 5, I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an element employed in the presetting means,

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a push button arrangement for manually selecting wavelengths,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view partly in section, of a push button arrangement,

Figs. 10, 11, 12 are plan views illustrating the operation of the push button arrangement,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view, partly in sec- 30 which has. a projection 3| intermediate its tion, showing details of the push button device,

Figs. 14 and 15 are side elevational views illustrating further the operation of the push button control arrangement, and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the 5 circuits employed in the device.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a panel I for a receiving set, having the usual knob 2 for manually rotating the shaft for controlling a condenser. Mounted on the panel I 10 is a casing 3 in which are slidably positioned a plurality of preselecting fingers l which can be moved to various positions by means of small knobs 5. The casing 3 also carries designations '5 of various radio broadcasting stations. 15

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the preselecting fingers A are moved over racks l to different positions as shown in Fig. 4. These various positions correspond to the particular wavelengths desired to be received. For example, in Fig. 2, the upper- 00 most selecting finger has been moved to receive the broadcasting station at the extreme left.

The racks l and preselecting fingers i are carried by a plate 8 which is slidably mounted in the casing 3. Referring to Fig. 3 there is shown the rear side of the panel. Casing 3 has a slot 9 in the rear face thereof through which pro jects a pin Hl mounted on the plate 8, the pin l0 being attached to a spring ll fixed to the casing 3. The slot 9 and pin it limit the movement of plate 8 in the casing 3.

Mounted on the panel adjacent casing 3 is a positioning means such as a rack l2, which engages a positioning means stop or pawl l3, which has one end thereof connected to a rod H extending across the panel and connected to a lever ldwhich has connected thereto a restoring means orcoil spring IS. A small casing H is also mounted on the rear side of the panel and has slidably therein an actuating means such as a rack l8, which engages a driver or pinion I9 (see Fig. 4) mounted on the condenser shaft. The driver or pinion I9 is rotated through reductionmeans, such as gears 20, 2!, 22, by a reversible electric motor 23, which is controlled by a reversing means, such as a switch 24, having one end thereof connected to a connecting means such as a link 25, the latter being pivoted to an arm 26 pivotally mounted at 21 on the panel. The connecting means such as link 25, has pivoted thereon an engaging means such as pawl 28 which is adapted to engage a second switch or control means 29. The connecting means 25 is pivoted at the other side of the panel to an arm length adapted to engage a sliding plate 8. Mounted on the panel is a means 32, such as a small electric magnet, constantly urged into engagement with one end of the engaging means or pawl 28, by a restoring means, such as a tension spring 34, so that the engaging means or pawl 28 will not engage the control means or switch 29. When the means 32 is energized it will be raised from engagement with the engaging means or pawl so that the latter can engage the control means 29.

In Fig. 3, the pawl 28 is shown in a position to engage the switch 29, the electromagnet 32 being energized to raise the member 33 out of engagement with one end of pawl 28.

In operation, an electric presetting clock 35 of a well known type is connected through control means 29, such as a switch, to the control apparatus. The clock 35 has a plurality of small buttons 36 which can be set for 15 minute intervals if desired to close an electric circuit through the control apparatus. The preselecting fingers 4 are set as shown in Fig. 2 for the various broadcasting stations to be received in succession at 15 minute intervals. When the clock arrives at one of the set buttons 36 a circuit is closed through the control means 29, such as a switch, and means 32, such an an electric magnet, and allows engaging means or pawl 28 to engage the control means 29.

The control means 29 is constantly urged to the left, which is the on position, by a positive means, such as a compression spring 6|. The motor 23 is started and moves the actuating means, such as rack l8, to the left until it engages arm l5, which causes a push on link l4 to momentarily disengage positioning means stop I3, such as a pawl, from positioning means l2, such as a rack, to allow casing 3 with plate 8, to drop down one notch to place the desired preselecting finger 4 in line with actuating means l8.

The electrical circuit established, refer to Fig. 16, is from lead A through line C to the switch 29 and through line D to the motor, and then through line E or line F to the reversing switch 24 and through line G and the impulse clock to lead B; at the same time a circuit is established from lead A to the electromagnet 32 back through line H to lead B.

Also, when actuating means or rack l8 engages arm 15, which is pivoted at 40, rod 25 is pulled to the left to move motor reversing means 24, such as a switch, to the left and reverse the motor, which then causes actuating means or rack I8 to move to the right until it engages the preselecting finger 4, which causes plate 8 to move to the right to engage projection 3|, which moves arm 30 and rod 25 to the right. Movement of rod 25 to the right causes engaging means 28 tomove control means or switch 29 to the right to the off position, thus stopping the motor. At the same time reversing means such as motor switch 24 is moved to the right to a position to cause the motor to rotate in a reverse direction when the circuit is again closed at the next time interval.

It will thus be seen that at each time interval the motor causes actuating means or rack I8 to first move to the left and then to the right, the circuit being broken when actuating means or rack [8 has moved the required distance to the right. Also, at each time interval, the casing 3 drops down a notch. This continues until all of the preselecting fingers have been engaged by actuating means [8, after which the radio receiving set must be adjusted manually. To further control the set automatically, the casing 3 must be raised so that the fingers 4 can be engaged by the actuating means or rack l8.

As will be seen, the positions of the finger 4 determine the extent of adjustment of the condenser of the receiving set. After each selection, the plate 8 is returned by spring I I and pin 9 to its proper position in casing 3.

In Figs. 8 to 15 are shown a push button arrangement for selecting broadcasting stations. A number of buttons 56 are mounted on short pins 51, slidably mounted in a plate 52, the latter being slidably mounted in a casing 53. Each button 50 corresponds to a predetermined broadcasting station.

Pivotally mounted on the rear of casing 53 is a bail 54 normally urged to the left (see Fig. 13) by a restoring means, such as spring 55. Carried by the bail 54 is an energizing means, such as a switch 56, which closes a circuit through motor 23, when the bail is moved to the right (see Fig. 13). The pins are provided with small notches to receive spring pressed ball detents 51 to hold the pins in position. When the bail 54 is moved to the right, it is held in that position by a detent 58.

In operation, when the bail 54 (Fig. 13) is moved to the right, the energizing means, such as switch 56, closes a circuit through motor 23, which causes actuating means or rack l8 to be moved to the left and then to the right as explained above. Actuating means 18 has attached thereto a member 59 which engages a depressed pin (see Fig. 9) to cause plate 52 to move to the left, until it forces pawl 58 from engagement with bail 54, thus allowing restoring means such as spring 55 to turn the bail to its normal position, that is, move the bail to the left (Fig. 13) and open energizing means or switch 56 to discontinue operation of the motor. The restoring means 55 is of greater strength than detents 51, and the return movement of bail 54 is not impeded. The bail 54 is obviously moved to the right by the fingers 5|. When the manual control pins are used, the time controlled stops 4 are moved to an inoperative position so as not to interfere with bar l8.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provided a relatively simple and effective device for automatically controlling a radio receiving set.

The device can be initially installed in the set at the factory, or it can be attached readily to any standard receiving set.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which, obviously, embodiments may be considered, including many modifications, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein denoted and set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a radio receiving apparatus, having a variable condenser, a shaft connected with movable plates of said condenser for adjusting the condenser, a pinion fixed to said shaft, a rack engaging said pinion, a reversible electric motor for rotating said shaft, a plurality of preselecting fingers adapted to be adjusted to various positions to limit the movement of said rack, a slidable plate upon which said fingers are mounted, means to limit the, extent of sliding of said plate, a

fall

switch for normally closing a circuit through said motor, a clock device for closing a circuit through said switch at predetermined intervals, a second switch for reversing the motor, and means engaged by said plate to move said first switch to an old position and to move the second ing finger adapted to be adjusted to various pcsitions to limit movement of said shaft, said finger being in alignment with said bar, a switch for normally closing a circuit through said motor, means for closing a circuit through said switch at predetermined intervals, a second switch for reversing the motor, and means associated with said finger to move said first switch to an off position and to move said second switch to reverse the motor in response to engagemen of said rack with the finger.

3. In a radio receiving apparatus having a variable condenser, a shaft connected with movable plates or said condenser for adjusting the condenser, a pinion fixedto said shaft, a rack engaging said pinion, a reversible motor for rotating said shaft, a slidably mounted plate, a plu- I rality of preselecting fingers mounted in vertical spaced relation on said plate said fingers being adapted to be adjusted to various positions to limit the movement of said rack, means to limit the extent of sliding of said plate, a switch for normally closing a circuit through said motor, means for closing a circuit through said switch at, predetermined time intervals, a second switch for reversing the motor, means engaged by said first-mentioned switch to move said switch to an off position and to move the second switch to reverse the motor in response to engagement of said rack with one of said preselecting fingers, and means to move'said plate vertically to place an adjacent preselecting finger in position for adjusting the condenser at the next time interval.-

4. In a radio receiving apparatus having a variable condenser, a shaft connected with movable plates of said condenser for adjusting the condenser, a driver fixed to said shaft, an actuating means engaging said driver, a reversible means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of preselecting fingers adapted to be adjusted to various positions to limit the movement of said actuating means, a slidable plate upon which said fingers are mounted, means to limit the extent of sliding of said plate, a control means for normally closing a circuit through said reversible means, a clock device for closing a, circuit through said control means at predetermined intervals, a reversing means for reversing the reversible means, and means engaged by said plate to move said first control means to an off position and to move the reversing means to reverse the reversible means in response to engagement of said actuating means with one of said preselecting fingers.

5. In a radio receiving apparatus having a variable condenser, a shaft connected with movable plates of said condenser for adjusting the condenser, a longitudinally movable actuating means adapted to be moved by rotation of said shaft, a reversible means for rotating said shaft, a preselecting finger adapted to be adjusted to various positions to limit movement of said shaft, said finger being in alignment with said movable actuating means, a control means for normally closing a circuit through said reversible means, means for closing a circuit through said control means at predetermined. intervals, a reversing means for reversing the reversible means, and means associated with said finger to move control means to an 01f position and to move the reversing means to reverse the reversible means in response to engagement of said actuating means with the finger.

6. In a radio receiving apparatus having a variable condenser, a shaft connected with movable plates of said condenser for adjusting the condenser, a driver fixed to said shaft, an actuating means engaging said driver, a reversible means for rotating said shaft, a slidably mounted plate, a plurality of preselecting fingers mounted in vertical spaced relation on said plate, said fingers being adapted to be adjusted to various positions to limit the movement of said actuating means, means to limit the extent of sliding of said plate, a control means for normally closing a circuit through said reversible means, means for closing a circuit through said control means at predetermined time intervals, a reversing means for reversing the reversible means, means engaged by said control means to move said control means to an off position and to move the. reversing means to reverse the reversible means in response to engagement of said ac tuating means with one of said preselecting fingers, and means to move said plate vertically to place an adjacent preselecting finger in position for adjusting the condenser at the next time interval.

JOSEPH H. GOOD. WILLIAM F. DESTER. 

